🍜 Saihua Ramen Main Store

The so-called "Tenri Ramen" features a soy sauce-based broth, complemented by ingredients such as cabbage and garlic, with a hint of spicy flavor. It originated in 1968 from a roadside ramen shop called "Saika Ramen" in Tenri City, Nara Prefecture. The founder, who was working in a Chinese restaurant at the time, wanted to create a place where people could enjoy revitalizing food no matter how late it was, which led to the establishment of the roadside ramen shop. Today, Tenri Ramen is considered the soul food of the people of Nara Prefecture, and Saika Ramen has expanded to 14 locations, primarily in the Kinki region (Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Shiga, Nara, Wakayama, etc.). At the Saika Ramen main store, the secret homemade soy sauce garlic broth is combined with stir-fried cabbage, pork, leeks, carrots, and other ingredients. The generous toppings overflow the ramen bowl, making the noodles nearly invisible. Not only is the portion substantial, but it also provides a hearty boost of energy after eating. The ramen noodles are curly, perfectly absorbing the broth, making them an ideal match. The soy sauce broth recipe, invented by the first-generation founder, is now inherited by the second generation, with all the broth made by hand at each location. This is what is known as a "one-generation transmission." Additionally, the shop uses chili sauce imported directly from Sichuan, giving it a unique spiciness that other ramen shops do not have. Furthermore, there are other toppings available, such as chashu, onsen eggs, and bamboo shoots, which are also highly recommended. Other menu items like fried rice, gyoza, and fried chicken are also worth trying. The Saika Ramen main store has over 90 seats, with spacious distances between tables, allowing customers to relax and enjoy their meals. Due to its origins as a ramen stall, there are also shops operating in Tenri City in a stall format. The lantern-lit stalls are also recommended for a visit.

The founding shop of "Tenri Ramen," the local soul food of Nara. This ramen is packed with various toppings, making it incredibly energizing. The secret homemade soy sauce broth is a time-honored recipe passed down through generations. Its unique flavor, derived from the use of spicy sauce, is a distinctive feature. In Tenri City, there are still branch shops that maintain the original noodle stall style from the time of its founding.